Best Movies About Gambling

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods
Rated R

Casino is a 1995 crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese. The story follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a mob-connected casino executive, as he attempts to make a success of the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. He is joined by his old friend and partner, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), whose brutal and unpredictable nature begins to spiral out of control and leads to the downfall of both men. The film also follows Ace's relationship with his wife, Ginger (Sharon Stone), as her past comes back to haunt them and threatens to destroy their marriage. Along the way, the characters come into contact with a variety of criminal elements and organized crime figures, as well as the FBI. In spite of Ace and Nicky's best efforts, their success ultimately leads to the destruction of both their lives.

From Robert Rossen, starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott
Rated Not Rated

The Hustler is an American drama film, directed by Robert Rossen and starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, and Myron McCormick. It tells the story of "Fast" Eddie Felson, a young and talented pool hustler who yearns to break into the professional ranks but finds himself constantly drawn back into the underground world of hustling. Along the way, Eddie develops a rivalry with the legendary pool champion, Minnesota Fats, and meets Sarah Packard, a troubled young alcoholic who helps bring out Eddie's softer side. Ultimately, Eddie must choose between his dreams of glory and his integrity. The Hustler was nominated for nine Oscars and won two, for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. The film was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2002.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen
Rated Approved

The Killing is a classic crime thriller film, directed by Stanley Kubrick and released in 1956. The film follows a small-time criminal, Johnny Clay, as he attempts to pull off a daring racetrack heist. With the help of a team of fellow criminals, Clay puts together a meticulous plan to rob the track of two million dollars. The plan seems perfect, but complications arise and the team must scramble to keep the heist from going off the rails. As tensions rise, a series of unexpected twists and turns turn the heist into a desperate fight for survival for Clay and his team. With its sharp dialogue, complex characters, and brilliant direction, The Killing is an unforgettable classic that has become an influential film in the crime genre.

From Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon
Rated PG-13

Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 heist film directed by Steven Soderbergh. It stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, and many other well-known actors. The story follows Danny Ocean (Clooney) and Rusty Ryan (Pitt) as they plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos—the Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand—simultaneously. With the help of their crew, they must pull off the biggest heist in Las Vegas history in order to get revenge against casino owner Terry Benedict (Garcia). Ocean and his team use their combined skills of strategy, technology, and street-smarts to try and beat the odds, but ultimately learn that the most important thing is friendship and loyalty.

From Todd Phillips, starring Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Ed Helms
Rated R

The Hangover is a 2009 comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, and Ken Jeong. It follows four friends, Phil (Cooper), Stu (Helms), Alan (Galifianakis), and Doug (Bartha), on a bachelor party trip to Las Vegas. After a wild night of partying and heavy drinking, the group wakes up the next morning to find that the groom, Doug, is missing, and they can’t remember what happened the previous night. In order to find him and piece together the night before, they must embark on a series of misadventures, complete with a tiger in the bathroom, stolen police cars, and a baby. As they struggle to recover the groom and get back to Los Angeles, they must also evade the authorities, a dangerous gangster, and a mysterious photographer.

From Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Roger Duchesne, Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy, Guy Decomble
Rated PG

Bob le Flambeur is a 1956 French crime film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Set in the Parisian underworld, the film follows aging gambler and professional thief Bob Montagne (Roger Duchesne) as he tries to pull off one last big heist. With the help of his close friend Paolo (Daniel Cauchy), Bob plans to rob the safe of a high-class casino, but his plans quickly spiral out of control and it becomes a desperate race against time to save his life and his reputation. Along the way, Bob encounters a colorful cast of characters, including a young and beautiful prostitute (Isabelle Corey) and a calculating police inspector (Guy Decomble). With its stylish visuals, careful direction, and nuanced performances, Bob le Flambeur is a classic of French New Wave cinema and a timeless portrait of the criminal underworld.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Michael Lee Gogin
Rated R

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American black comedy road film adapted from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name. Directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam and Tony Grisoni, it stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. The film details Duke and Gonzo's journey through Las Vegas as they pursue the American Dream while also fleeing from the law during the 1970s. Along the way they encounter a host of bizarre characters and psychedelic experiences, ultimately leading them to an apocalyptic conclusion. The film received critical praise and was a modest box office success, grossing over $10 million against a production budget of around $18 million.

From Louis Malle, starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate Reid, Michel Piccoli
Rated R

From Jacques Demy, starring Jeanne Moreau, Claude Mann, Paul Guers, Henri Nassiet
Rated Not Rated

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson
Rated R

From Robert Altman, starring George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss, Gwen Welles
Rated R

From David Mamet, starring Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Lilia Skala
Rated R

From Karel Reisz, starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky
Rated R

From Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine
Rated Not Rated

From Mike Hodges, starring Clive Owen, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball, Alexander Morton
Rated Not Rated

From Martin Scorsese, starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver
Rated R

From Richard Kwietniowski, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, John Hurt, Maury Chaykin
Rated R

From Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Michael Mantell
Rated PG-13

From Wayne Kramer, starring William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin, Shawn Hatosy
Rated R

From Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, starring Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan
Rated R

From Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Max von Sydow, Eusebio Poncela, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Mónica López
Rated R

From Robert Luketic, starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Aaron Yoo
Rated PG-13

From Barry Levinson, starring Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley
Rated R

From Joe Pytka, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, David Johansen, Jennifer Tilly
Rated PG-13

From Mars Callahan, starring Mars Callahan, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Rosenbaum, Ricky Schroder
Rated R